Oddvar RÖNNESTAD

Born in the ski-jumping town of Kongsberg, Oddvar Rønnestad took an early interest in alpine skiing and was a promising junior skier. He went to the University of Denver with a scholarship, and was a member of the University team from 1956 to 1959. During his stay in Colorado he made good progress, and was selected for the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley as the only Norwegian Alpine skier. In 1962 he won his only national championships in Alpine skiing, winning the downhill event. After his active career he was instrumental in developing Alpine skiing in his home town of Kongsberg, and worked as manager for the local ski-lift company for several years. Married with three daughters, he lived in Kongsberg until his death in 2014.